THEMES FROM THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS AND THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES ' (a) Relate the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin according to Mark's gospel. (b) Give two ...

Answer Details

a) According to Mark's gospel, the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin was a sham. The chief priests and the elders were looking for evidence against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any. Many false witnesses came forward, but their testimony did not agree. Finally, the high priest asked Jesus if he was the Messiah, and Jesus replied, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven." The high priest then accused Jesus of blasphemy and the whole council condemned him to death.

b) People bear false witness against others for a variety of reasons, but two common reasons are:

• Personal Gain: Some people bear false witness against others in order to gain something for themselves. This could be money, power, or some other form of advantage. They may lie about someone else in order to make themselves look better or to gain some other advantage.
• Revenge: Others bear false witness against others out of a desire for revenge. They may have been wronged by the person they are lying about and want to get back at them. They may also be jealous of the other person's success or popularity and want to bring them down. In some cases, they may not even have a specific reason for their actions, but may simply enjoy causing harm to others.